Liberation Curriculum

King Legacy Series by Beacon Press

A Time to Break Silence: The Essential Works of Martin Luther King, Jr. for Students

Testimonials for the King Legacy Series

“I find educators eager to teach the inspiring words of Dr. King, but they are often unfamiliar with his works beyond ‘I Have a Dream.’ Once they uncover additional King speeches and sermons that deal directly and honestly with the interconnectedness of race, poverty, and violence, teaching King becomes more relevant to the lives of their students today.”—Andrea McEvoy Spero, former Director of Education, The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute

“One merely needs to read ‘What is Your Life’s Blueprint?’ with students, for example, to counter their questions about why history matters now. When I used this essay, students could not stop quoting lines from the speech, analyzing why King’s words resonated so powerfully with their own future plans, and served as a reminder for what they were capable of accomplishing.”—Kimberley Parker, educator

An Introduction to the King Legacy Series

The King Legacy for Students presents Dr. King’s most important writings and speeches—carefully selected by teachers across a variety of disciplines—in an accessible and user-friendly volume. A Time to Break Silence: The Essential Works of Martin Luther King, Jr. for Students is arranged thematically in six parts, the eighteen selections are introduced by award-winning author Walter Dean Myers. Included in the anthology are some of Dr. King's most well-known and frequently taught classic works, like "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "I Have a Dream," as well as lesser-known pieces such as "The Sword that Heals" and "What Is Your Life's Blueprint?," which speak to issues young people face today.